Need advice on rescue

[pistis]

So, here is what's been going on in my life in as much of a "nut-shell" as I can explain:

1st: The week before my finals I had some questions about fostering (just to start gaining knowledge) that I asked Rebecca Novak of Shelter Angels Pit Bull Rescue here in ATL.

The conversation led to Ken and me temporarily fostering a wonderful pittie girl for Rebecca for about a week. Which led us to think being a permanent foster was just not for us right now. It felt like too much to C&R 3 dogs since Lola and Ergo are DA, sometimes with each other.

Last Friday: On the day of my last final I got a call from a friend who's friend found an emciated pit bull puppy and didn't know what to do with him. This situation fell into Ken's lap and mine, so I contacted some rescues who agreed if they had the funds they'd help- but only if a foster could be found. Since this situation literally fell into our laps Ken was willing to be that foster. However, by the time I got in contact with the young lady who found the dog she had already relinquished him to CCAC (Cobb County AC). I tried to call the AC, but no one returned my calls. Ok, it happens. The dog had severe mange, was malnourished, and had something wrong with his legs- my initial thoughts were he potentially had Rickets(sp?) since he was a puppy under 1 year old. Ami Ciontos was still willing to help him so long as the rescue had the funds and we'd foster, but the AC never returned my calls.

Well, since it didn't work out of course she suggested another dog she had that needed foster, and I felt bad. It made me feel like, "Oh, I'd do it for this dog but not yours." When that's really not the case. The only reason we considered was because the dog "fell into our lap" since a couple of kids came to us not knowing what to do or where to go with this dog. Communication didn't happen fast enough and they ended up taking the dog to CCAC.

Today: Another girl I am acquainted with send me a message on FB saying her brother found a pit bull. She knew I was somewhat involved in pit bull rescue (with the cross posting and all) and was asking for my help. Her brother will not give this dog to just anyone, he's very particular, which is smart on his part, but wants him to go to a good home. He can't keep the dog because it's too much with the other 2 dogs he already owns, but still wants the pit bull he found to go to the right home. He also took it upon himself to have the dog neutered, says he's potty trained, behaves well, and gets along with other dogs as far as he knows. Again, another dog we could potentially help has just fallen into our laps.

Now, I want to gather all the info I can and see if a rescue around here would help this dog find a home, and Ken and I would foster him until then depending on how everything works out.

My problem is this; I just can't help but feel a little guilty that I am willing to do whatever I can if a dog falls into my lap, but otherwise I don't want to agree to foster for a shelter that really needs fosters.

After temporarily fostering Samara for Rebecca we decided it would be better to wait to be permanent fosters until we were done with school because we hardly have any time on our hands right now with work, school, our 2 crazy pups, and the house.

But now, all of a sudden within the past week, it seems these random mutual friends are coming out of the woodwork to Ken and I about what to do with this pit bull they've found. I didn't want to permanently foster yet, but the option has literally been dropped into our laps twice in 1 week.

My issue lies not with helping these dogs, but going to rescues where I've said, "permanently fostering isn't in our best interest right now," but all of a sudden I'm going to those same people saying, "a friend found a dog and doesn't know what to do with it because they can't keep it, but don't want to take it to a shelter. If we foster can you help?"

Is that wrong of me? I really need some feedback about this. Am I handling this the right way? Honestly, we wouldn't think about fostering a dog right now, but when one just falls into your lap it almost makes you feel obligated to help and you want to help. You don't want these kids taking the dogs to AC or, even worse, potentially giving them away to the first person who says they'll take them (which could be a bad owner). I have no issue helping when it's the type of situation that pretty much gets handed to me this way. I just can't help but feel like it's wrong to not want to foster for a rescue, but I will only if it falls into my lap. Then again, I wonder if there is a reason these dogs are all-of-a-sudden falling into our laps... Like maybe we are supposed to be helping this way. Almost as if it's "fate" or something? Thoughts? Anyone?

I mean, honestly, people I barely know as friends are coming to me asking, "We found this pit bull, is there ANYway you can help?" When initially we weren't going to be permanent fosters. But when someone who doesn't know what to do with a dog they just found (and you know they aren't the most responsible people anyway) comes to me I want to jump out and say yes! If anything to just make sure they don't get rid of the dog the wrong way... if that makes sense.

[suziriot]

Welcome to the big ugly reality of rescue. It is absolutely NOT wrong of you to maintain your quality of life and you should not feel guilty for not taking on more than you can reasonably handle. You can't save every dog, even when they do fall in your lap. That's what makes rescue so hard. The emails and phone calls asking for help far outnumber the offers to help. You live with the personal knowledge that the dogs you don't help will most likely die or continue to suffer abuse and neglect. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT. We are not the ones who create these situations. We're the ones who clean up after the stupidity, ignorance, and cruelty of everybody else.

Most importantly, if you take on too much then you'll end up not being able to help at all anymore.

[pistis]

Yeah. Thanks, Suzi! Sometimes I just feel like they all-of-a-sudden land in my lap for a reason.

With this latest pittie I'm dealing with it seems like the guy who found him is pretty responsible (he made sure she got spayed, UTD w/ shots, ect) and it seems he's willing to foster him until he finds a home. He's working with someone on Petfinder and has info and pics up. I suggested he get with a pit bull rescue if he hasn't already done so, as they will screen apps properly and ensure the best, responsible home possible for "Junior" as he's named him. Hopefully I can point him in the right direction and he can continue to foster Junior until then.

Here's the link if you'd like to see how handsome Junior is : www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17100661

[pistis]

**he made sure *he* got *neutered***

[pistis]

I just noticed on Petfinder it says, "he loves to go to the dogpark." I'll have to talk to this guy about pit bulls and the dog parks as well. He e-mailed me and I sent one back. Waiting to hear from him.

[maryellen]

just remember, it sometimes takes months or even years to adopt out this breed, so be prepared to have a foster dog for a long time.

and honestly, dont let anyone guilt you into taking their dog "because they wll bring him/her to the shelter " thats not your problem. responsible owners do whatever necessary to do the right thing not throw it in a rescuers lap to clean up their mess.



dogs in shelters have less time to live then owner dogs who are trying to guilt people into taking their dogs.

think with your HEAD, and if you have 2 dogs that are da maybe you might want to either not foster, or do temporary fostering for other breeds that will get adopted faster for now,or choose to foster puppies for now to just get started. but NEVER let anyone guilt you into taking a dog

[RealPitBull]

I understand the "fall into your lap" thing, and how it feels like this is supposed to happen and you just can't say no, and then it seems like you turned your back on all the other dogs you could have been fostering in the mean time. There have been a couple similar situations where I sorta felt like I SHOULD take a dog, but then my head got the better of me and I know that fostering for me right now is just not doable.

Rescue needs to be something you do with your head first and foremost. There is a reason up to now you have not been fostering - you are smart enough to know it's just not time for you. It is easy to get sucked into the idea of taking a dog in, at the spur of the moment, when someone NOT in rescue is practically throwing a dog at you with the only other option being "I'll have to take him to AC".

It hurts every single day to say no to dogs - I *literally* do it every day. Everyone in rescue does. You do the most you can on any given day. That is ALL anyone can ask of you. You'll foster when it's the right time - you won't have to even ask, you'll just know: now it's time to start fostering. And guess what? Even when you do start fostering, you'll still be saying "No" ALL the time.

[pistis]

Thanks, all. It's good to hear it from people who have been there (and are there right now.) Ok, so no permanent fostering for the meantime. Not adult dogs anyways. From what I've seen puppies always find homes fast though. Including pit bull puppies.

[adoptapitbull]

You can't beat yourself up for not fixing someone else's problem. If your hands are full, then that's enough to say no. The rescue we got our former Dane/Houla mix from was bugging us to foster all the time. We just said it's too much for us. I think it's also risky to foster when you do have known DA dogs. Sure, you can C&R, but what if one time someone gets out, or you make a mistake? That is my biggest fear if someone wants me to watch their dog. I say, "No, leave him home and I'll come watch him there. No need to stress him out by bringing him here." People don't often understand Pits and their DA. They think that because you have two already, that you can have three. So really, they may think you have no "good" reason to them. Even if your reason is, "I don't want to", that's good enough. Don't be guilt tripped into anything. If you feel like you want to do more, collect supplies and donations for your local shelter, or even just share and crosspost things on FB. That truly does help! Good luck with everything!!